With the regular season starting on Thursday, it’s time to take a look at the best of the best in both state and the Hartford area.

A pair of defending state champs top each list, while a mix of traditional powerhouses and upstart programs follow them.

State

1. DARIEN (12-1 last season): The Blue Wave have won three consecutive Class LL titles and have enough pieces returning to make another run.

2. GREENWICH (12-1): The Cardinals are returning firepower on offense, and might boast one of the state’s strongest quarterback-running back duos in QB Gavin Muir and RB Tysen Comizio.

3. HAND (12-1): Coming off of a Class L state championship, Hand brings back starting quarterback Phoenix Billing, leading receiver Chris Bartosic, as well as All-Courant defensive back Ian Butler.

4. NEW CANAAN (9-3): The Rams have a pair of offensive lineman committed to Power Five schools in Jack Conley (Boston College) and Jack Stewart (Michigan State). Drew Pyne (committed to Notre Dame) threw for 2,355 yards and 25 touchdowns as a sophomore, and will look to lead the Rams to a state title in the team’s inaugural year in Class LL.

5. ST. JOSEPH (13-1): Quarterback David Summers returns to the Class S champs after throwing for 3,227 yards and 49 touchdowns as a junior.

6. SHELTON (9-3): Continuity will be key for the Gaels, as they return their starting quarterback, running back, wide receiver and top four tacklers on defense, as well as Michael Lockavitch, who collected eight sacks as a junior.

7. WEST HAVEN (10-3): The Blue Devils’ season ended at the hands of eventual champion Darien in the Class LL tournament last season, but West Haven rolled over some of the state’s best over the course of the season. The Blue Devils defeated Shelton 46-7 in the tournament, blanked Cheshire 27-0, and rolled past Xavier, 45-7.

8. EAST HARTFORD (9-2): The Hornets were knocked off by eventual Class LL champs Darien last fall in the state tourney. But returning dynamic quarterback Raquan Tompkins, who threw and rushed for over 1,000 yards as a junior, alongside lead receiver Jaquan Allen have the Hornets poised to put points up on the board.

9. ANSONIA (12-1): Ansonia is 37-2 over the course of the past three seasons, and it’s hard to see things slowing down for the Chargers. Replacing Markell Dobbs, who rushed for 2,314 yards and 38 touchdowns last year, will be difficult. But having Darwin Amaya, who rushed for 917 yards and 17 touchdowns behind Dobbs, is a good start.

10. WINDSOR (10-2): Last fall, the Warriors’ season ended in a loss to Hand in the Class L tournament. But quarterback Julian Jackson is back for his senior year after throwing for 2,060 yards and posting a 20-to-5 touchdown-to-interception ratio as a junior. Two of Windsor’s four leading tacklers from 2017 are back, and the Warriors haven’t won less than 10 games since 2013.

The Blue Wave have torn through the class to pull off the three-peat. Can anyone stop the Fairfield County powerhouse from making it four in a row? There’s a pair of area teams that might have a...

Area

1. HAND (12-1)

2. EAST HARTFORD (9-2)

3. WINDSOR (10-2)

4. BERLIN (9-3): The Redcoats have struggled to make it deep into the playoffs for the past two seasons, but they boast arguably their best roster yet this fall. Senior Kevin Dunn returns after setting the single-season passing record last season, while running back Alex Halkias and receivers Larry St. Pierre and Giancarlo Tufano will provide ample weapons. Junior Zach Hrubiec is back on the defensive line after landing on the All-Courant team as a sophomore.

5. SOUTHINGTON (8-2): The Blue Knights managed to win eight games last season, but missed the playoffs. But anyone familiar with Southington knows the Blue Knights can’t be held down for too long. Senior Jacob Drena steps in at quarterback with a surplus of speedy receivers and talented running backs. Defensively, a strong front seven will help make up for a quintet of talented defenders lost to graduation.

6. MALONEY (9-2): Last season marked the first time Maloney made it into the playoffs in 11 years. The Spartans have a pair of talented skill position players in wide receiver Victor Marquez and running back Freddy Hidalgo — who missed last season with an injury — to surround first-year starting quarterback Elliot Good. The Spartans also boast a massive offensive line, anchored by Ryan Martel and Trevor Santiago.

7. BLOOMFIELD (8-2): The Warhawks have two of the region’s top players at their respective positions on offense in quarterback Daron Bryden and running back Ky’Juon Butler. Wide receiver Anthony Simpson is getting Division I looks as a junior, and is likely to improve on an eight-touchdown sophomore campaign. Bloomfield has a championship pedigree, too, as this year’s seniors won a Class S state title in 2015.

8. STAFFORD/SOMERS/EAST WINDSOR (10-2): The Bulldogs are returning one of the area’s most unique players in Colton Engel. As a junior, he threw for 1,134 yards, and rushed for 2,004 yards and 23 touchdowns. He’ll bring back his leading receiver Jeff Kology, too. All-Courant linebacker John Kopek, who recorded 120 tackles last year, is back on defense as well.

9. SHEEHAN (8-2): The Titans were bounced in the first round of the Class M tournament last season by Joel Barlow-Redding, but are returning a bevy of key players from last season. Quarterback Weston Terzi is back after throwing for 1,696 yards as a junior. Junior running back Terrance Bogan rushed for 1,049 yards and 14 touchdowns as a sophomore. On defense, Sheehan is bringing back four defenders who racked up at least 80 tackles on defense last fall.

10. MIDDLETOWN (10-1): The Blue Dragons have high expectations coming off of last season, and have enough weapons on offense to compensate for losses. Senior running back Xzavier Reyes rushed for 1,163 yards and 12 touchdowns last season. Senior Tyreece Lumpkin rushed for 10 touchdowns.